Dyeing composition

ABSTRACT

DYEING AND DEAERATING COMPOSITON INCLUDING A LOW ETHOXYLATED FATTY ACID DIAMINE, AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF DINAPHTHYL METHANE DISULPHONIC ACID, AND A MIXTURE OF ALKAI METAL SALTS OF PROPOXYLATED MONOESTERS AND DIESTERS OF PHOSPHORIC ACID.

United States Patent U.S. Cl. 252--355 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Dyeing and deaerating composition including a low ethoxylatedfatty acid diamine, an alkali metal salt of dinaphthyl methanedisulphonic acid, and a mixture of alkali metal salts of propoxylatedmonoesters and diesters of phosphoric acid.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to a composition which is of use inthe dyeing industry and is also of use as a deaerating agent. Thisinvention also relates to a process for dyeing polyamide fibers usingthe said composition.

Polyamide fibers, whether in the form of woven or knitted fabrics, aredifficult to dye evenly and the dyed fibers often have a streakyappearance. The causes of this streakiness are mainly physical and maybe due to different degrees of stretching or drafting of the fibers andto differences in texturizing of the fibers. The streakiness is alsoaffected to a lesser degree by the number of amino terminal groups inthe polyamide fibers.

The prevention of streaky dyeing is usually unpleasant and tedious.Thus, the consumption of surface-active agents is increased, theseagents being required to make dyeing even. However, the agents causefoam formation in an amount which increases with the concentration inthe dye vats or baths. The foam formation is trouble some since the dyevats or baths may foam over or, with for example dyeing machines (jetmachines), such a strong foaming action may occur that the process canno longer be carried out.

Many auxiliary materials have been suggested for even, streak-freedyeing or polyamide materials, for example, non-ionic and anion-activesurface-active agents. The use of silicones has been proposed foreliminating foam, but the silicones lead to the formation of siliconestains which can only be removed with extreme difficulty from thematerial. Multi-stage processes have been proposed for eliminating thestreak formation when dyeing polyamide fibers, for example bypre-boiling the material to be dyed in the presence of anion-activesurface-tension agents, such as high sulphonates of fatty acidderivatives, followed by cooling in order to arrive at the requireddyeing temperatures in the dyeing process proper, with addition of othersurface-active agents such for example as highly ethoxylated aliphaticamines. Such processes are involved, costly and time consuming.

Increased fastness standards with dyed polyamide materials necessitatethe use of dyestuffs with relatively large molecules, which result inpoor migration power, thus resulting in a stronger tendency to unevenand streaky dyeing.

SUMMARY This invention provides a composition comprising a lowethoxylated fatty acid diamine, an alkali metal salt of dinaphthylmethane disulfonic acid, and a mixture of the alkali metal salts ofpropoxylated monoand diesters of phosphoric acid.

This invention also provides a process of dyeing polyamide fibers inwhich the dyeing is carried out with "ice a simple preliminary boilingand without intermediate cooling in the presence of a compositioncomprising a low ethoxylated fatty acid diamine, an alkali metal salt ofdinaphthyl methane disulfonic acid, and a mixture of the alkali metalsalts of propoxylated monoand diesters of phosphoric acid.

Preferably, the composition comprises (in percent by weight):

50% of a low ethoxylated fatty acid diamine, 30% of an alkali metal saltof dinaphthyl methane disulfonic acid, and 20% of a mixture of thealkali metal salts of propoxylated 'monoand di-(2-ethylhexanol-l)-estersof orthophosphoric acid.

DESCRIPTION The composition may include an esterified alcohol containing4 to 6 carbon atoms in branched or unbranched form. The low ethoxylatedfatty acid diamine is preferably substantially saturated. The alkalisalts may be the sodium and potassium salts.

The low ethoxylated fatty acid diamine is prepared by reacting a fattyacid diamine with a molar excess of ethylene oxide for a period of timesuflicient to replace one or more hydrogens attached to nitrogen atomswith ethylene oxide groups or chains.

Dinaphthylene methane disulfonic acids have the general formula Theseacids are described by Schwartz and Perry in Surface Active Agents andDetergents, vol. I, page 119. Their alkali metal salts are prepared inthe usual manner by reacting the diacid with a sodium or potassiumcompound such as NaOH or KOH.

Phosphoric acid monoand diesters are prepared in the normal manner byreacting phosphoric acid with an amount of an alcohol suflicient toesterify one or two OH groups attached to phsphorus. The mixture ofmonoand diesters is then reacted with propylene oxide followed byneutralization with alkali to form a mixture of the alkali metal saltsof propoxylated monoand diesters of phosphoric acid.

The process of the invention enables streak-free, highly fast, evendyeing under technical and economic conditions. The polyamide fibers maybe in Woven or knitted form to give a fabric or yarn which can be evenlyand streak-free dyed with a low foaming action. It is surprising thateven dyeing can be obtained without special preparation of the fibermaterial and with a low foaming action. Moreover, shortening of the longdyeing times hitherto necessary in most cases may be obtained.

As indicated above, the composition of the invention is also suitablefor use as a deaerating agent. This is because it prevents airocclusions due to its low foam and its wetting behaviour. Thus, forexample, the composition may be used with texturized packages to preventor reduce the hitherto obtained white undyed spots which are caused byair bubbles.

The advantages obtained from the present composition result from thesynergistic action of the compounds present in the composition. If thecompounds are used singly, then the advantages are not obtainable in therequired degree. By way of example, propoxylated phosphoric acid esters,especially in normal operational 10% or more stock solutions, tend toproduce flocculation. However, this flocculation does not occur when theesters are com bined with fatty acid diamines and sodium salts ofdinaphthyl methane disulphonic acids. The ethoxylated diamines bythemselves produce scarcely any efiects.

Examples of the diamines which may be used are the amines of puresaturated fatty acids with chain lengths of C to C Alternatively, thediamines obtained from natural or synthetic fatty acid mixtures with lowiodine numbers may be used, for example the diamines produced fromcoconut fatty acids, palm oil fatty acids and technical stearic acids.

With dyeing temperatures above 100 C., the migrating action of thedyestuffs is considerably increased by the presence of the compositionof this invention. The process of the invention can be carried out inall conventional color combinations. The advantages of the process areparticularly noticeable with classes of dyestuffs which have a poorlevelling action and a strong tendency to streaky dyeing, such as thephthalocyanines which are made water-soluble. Especially with turquoiseshades, strikingly better and more solid dyeings are achieved with theaid of the composition of this invention.

Dyeing is effected by initially boiling the material to be dyed for 20to 30 minutes in the presence of up to 4% by weight of the composition,calculated on the weight of the material, and also in the presence ofthe other conventional chemicals required for the dyeing. This time isrequired when using the conventional dyeing methods in order to heat upthe dye liquor from approximately 40 to 50 C. to boiling temperature.After the preliminary boiling, the dyestuff, if desired in dissolvedform, is added to the bath without any addition of other auxiliaryagents, and then the complete dyeing is carried out for one hour byboiling or at high temperatures. The material is completely dyed withoutrequiring more time and increased expense, and satisfactory, level,streak-free dyeing is obtained also when using true dyestuffs.

The composition of the invention can, in general, be used in amounts ofapproximately 3-4% by weight based on the Weight of the material. Incontrast, total quantities of anion-active and non-ionic auxiliaryagents of 6-10% are necessary according to the known methods. In theknown methods, this has the result that, for example with polyamidematerial which would be roughened after the dyeing, the material canonly be inadequately roughened or not satisfactorily roughened becauseof the high quantities of added auxiliary agents. It is believed thatthe cohesive components contained in the roughening and brighteningagents become ineffective because of the larger quantities of previouslyintroduced auxiliary agents. These disadvantageous effects may beavoided when using the composition of the present invention.

The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the followingexamples which are not intended to limit the invention in any manner.All percentages are by weight unless indicated otherwise.

Example 1Good dyeing of polyamide materials which tends to dye with astreaky etfect by using a composition according to the invention Thepolyamide material was pretreated by boiling for 20 minutes with 2% ofthe composition described below and 2% of 60% acetic acid. Thereafter,1.5% of Acid Blue (CI. 26360) was added at boiling temperature anddyeing took place for 60 minutes at 100 to 110 C.

Using this working method, level and solid dyeing effects were obtainedwith only a single dye auxiliary. Best possible covering of the affinitydiiferences of the fibers (streakiness) caused by the polyamide materialwas obtained and the working procedure was economical.

In addition, the known strongly migrating dyeing auxiliaries cause afairly strong, undesirable foam development in the circulating treatmentbaths and as a consequence it is necessary to incorporate additionaldefoaming products. It is an additional advantage of the invention thatdyeing can be effected in conditions which are (1) 50 parts by weight oflow ethoxylated stearic fatty acid propylene diamine prepared byreacting stearic fatty acid propylene diamine with 15 moles of ethyleneoxide (EtO) according to the following equation:

l Stearlc fatty acid NCaHaNH 15Et0 stearlc fatty acid NC3HuN (EtO)wherein x+y+z=15.

(2) 30 parts by weight of the sodium salt of dinaphthyl methanedisulfonic acid.

(3) 20 parts by weight of the sodium salts of propoxylated monoanddi-(2-ethylhexanol-l-)-esters of orthophosphoric acid prepared byreacting 0.124 mol orthophosphoric acid with 0.372 mol 2-ethylhexanol-1which results in a mixture containing about 60% of the monoester andabout 40% of the diester according to Hochwalt et al., Ind. Eng. Chem,34, 20 (1942), Stewart and Crandall, Am. Chem. Soc. J., 73, 1377 (1951),and U5. Pat. No. 2,658,909. The mixture, which has an acid number of 292mg. KOH/g. substance, is reacted with 0.38 mol propylene oxide forming apropoxylated mixture having an acid number of 183. The remaining acid isthen neutralized with alkali to form the sodium salt. It is not known ifpropylene oxide reacts preferably with the OH groups in the monoester orthe diester but in any event, free acid remains at the end of thereaction which is neutralized to form the alkali metal salt.

The added quantity of auxiliaries was calculated on the basis of aproduct. Where the concentration is chosen to be lower on practicalgrounds, the added quantity of auxiliary agents is obviously increasedaccordingly, for example from 2% to 4% for a 50% product.

Control L-Known dyeing of polyamide material which tends to dye withstreaky effect by using two dyeing auxiliary agents and a two-stageworking procedure.

The material was pretreated by boiling for 20 to 30 minutes with 2% ofan auxiliary agent based on highly sulphonated oleic acid and 2% of 60%acetic acid (pH 5 Thereafter, 2% of a relatively highly ethoxylatedstearic fatty acid diamine was added to this bath and then circulatedfor 10 to 15 minutes. 1.5% of Acid Blue 113 (C. I. 26360) was thereafteradded to the bath at boiling temperature and dyeing was carried out for60 minutes at 100 or C.

Despite the use of two dyeing auxiliary agents, the eveness of thedyeing was not as good as that obtained in Example 1, and the dyeingprocedure in Example 2 as longer than in Example 1.

Control II.--Known dyeing of polyamide material by using a knowncustomary working method and one dyeing auxiliary agent, the one dyeingauxiliary agent giving a sufficient levelling action but non-removal ofthe streakiness caused by the material.

The material was pretreated at 40 C. in a bath containing 2% of anauxiliary agent based only on ethyoxylated stearic fatty acid diaminesor such diamines in admixture with anion-active components which have anaftinity for the fiber, such for example as alkyl-aryl sulphonates,mersolates, and sulphonated oleic acids, and 2% of 60% acetic acid.After 10 minutes, 1.5% of Acid Blue (C. I. 26360) was added. This dyebath was brought from 40 C. to boiling point in 30 to 45 minutes anddyeing took place at boiling point for 60 minutes.

Using such an auxiliary agent, a fully level dyeing can be obtained onthe basis of a sufiicient dyestutf migration action. However, suchproducts by themselves are ineffective when using this working methodfor removing the streakiness caused by the material.

What is claimed is:

1. Composition consisting essentially of a ethoxylated fatty aciddiamine derived from a fatty acid having a chain length of C to Cprepared by reacting a fatty acid diamine with a molar excess ofethylene oxide for a period of time sufiicient to replace at least onehydrogen attached to a nitrogen atom with an ethylene oxide group, analkali metal salt of dinaphthyl methane disulphonic acid, and a mixtureof alkali metal salts of propoxylated monoand di-(2-ethyl hexanol-l)esters of orthophosphoric acid, said composition comprising 50% of saidethoxylated fatty acid diamine, 30% of said alkali metal salt ofdinaphthyl methane disulphonic acid, and 20% of said mixture of alkalimetal salts of propoxylated monoand di-(Z-ethyl hexanol-l) esters ofOrthophosphoric acid.

2. Composition of claim 1 wherein said ethoxylated fatty acid diamine issubstantially saturated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,909 11/1953 Crandall 260990OTHER REFERENCES Schonfeldt, Surface Ethylene Oxide Adducts, PergamonPress, pp. 97 & 99 (1970).

Schwartz & Perry, Surface Active Agents & Detergents, vol. I, p. 119(1949).

JOHN D. WELSH, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 252-8.75; 8-171; 2528.9

